It is believed that the History of Dhows was initiated from 600 BC to 600 AD. Dhow cruises have gained wide recognition for its beautiful design and its relevance to the city’s cultural history. Many wonder about the origin and the role it has played in the history. It is time to understand the traditional boat, its importance and its uses in the current era. Let us begin with the origin of the dhow cruise.

History of Dhows

Now that we are talking about the origin of the Dhow cruise, let’s first understand the meaning of the word “Dhow”. It originated from the Persian word “dawa” which means a vessel. These beautiful vessels are made out of wood that is either teak or mahogany. Their structure and construction design makes it efficient for sailing in both shallow waters and open seas. Aren’t they amazing? They also have a triangular sail that is attached to the diagonal spar known as a lateen sail.

Traditional Uses

The majority of businesses from the 8th century included trading from the Arabian Peninsula with East Africa, India and many more. There was transportation of other goods like exotic woods, precious metals, silk and species. The wide adaptability of this dhow began from there since and has been preserved till now. Imagine, the dhow cruise on which you are sailing across the marina and having a delicious buffet has helped thousands of businesses in Arabian Maritime Trade.

They were built in a way to make them easily navigate through the windy weather during their journey. Now, to many people’s surprise, despite being old, they still had advanced navigational instruments that helped them sail through the Arabian sailors.

The Art of Dhow Construction

If we understand the Dhow’s history, then their construction is an important part that should not be missed. The construction method and princess have been always passed to the next generation who preserve it.

First of all, they used teak or mahogany in the wood category to make it durable and stand the rusty weather of the sea. It has a special construction process known as carvel construction that makes sure the boat is a smooth yet strong vessel that can navigate the sailors around the Arabian Gulf with little to no broken issues.

Are There Any Types?

The Dhow Cruise’s prestige has been preserved from its early days which inspired people to create its variations. These variations are blessings in disguise for a wide variety of uses.

The first one is the Baghlah which was used for goods transportation as it had a large cargo capacity.
The second was for pearl diving and fishing known as boom and the last was the Jalibut for long-distance voyages.

Dhow: Dubai’s Cultural Icon

As you must have gathered till now, the Dhow Cruise in Dubai has been a testament to the city’s cultural ethos. This is because of their commitment to preserving the heritage even when the world keeps modernizing. They did not leave the vessel to rot just because there were new, more advanced crafts that they could use. They kept it, made it useful and also a part of their culture by blending them with the music, literature and dance. Cheers to the legacy of the UAE!

Modern Era Dhows

Sailing along with time, the dhow still works on its roots and continues to evolve to give people a good sailing experience with Emirati Hospitality. It has so good prominence that the Burj Al Arab and Dubai Opera’s architecture has been designed as a tribute to the dhow vessel.

In the form of tourism, the dhow has become a cruise tool that takes you through the Marina or Creek. It not only gives them insights into the cultural significance but also the mesmerizing Dubai skyline views. You will have access to a delicious buffet and two decks in some dhows. If you are intrigued with the dhow knowledge, you can immediately book a dhow cruise with us.

Preservations at Shipyards

The modern and digitalized versions of everything have overtaken the world and Dubai or UAE as a whole is no exception. But they better know than hampering the age-old heritage, the Dhow Construction. They preserved it and still use it with a combination of modern techniques to ensure smooth sailing. You can even witness some of the traditional construction processes at shipyards that store Dubai’s maritime past.

Conclusion

So, this was all about History of Dhows. The Arabian vessels still mesmerize every local and tourist alike. They do not waver from their roots and hold the power and prestige of the age-old culture. If you are in Dubai, then do not forget to go on a dhow cruise. Because after learning about its history and contribution to the culture and economy, you will feel proud of sailing in the wooden boat. Its exemplary tourism services are the talk of the town which you can avail of by booking with us.

The History of Dhows: Understanding the Traditional & New Era Boats